Duterte story on touching maid normalizes abuse, Robredo says

MANILA, Philippines— Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday criticized President Rodrigo Duterte’s latest controversial anecdote anew, saying it normalizes abuse.

On her weekly radio program, Robredo said Duterte should not have made his claims on touching a sleeping helper in public for it normalizes rape and sexual abuse.

 “Sana iniisip na... hindi naman masama magbiro pero may mga biro na hindi talaga dapat ginagawa,” Robredo said on “BISErbisyongLENI.”

(I hope it was thought through… It’s not bad to joke but there are jokes that are not meant to be made)

“Yung pahayag na yun... nakakatakot na hindi naisip na napakarami nating mga kababayan na ang trabaho ay kasambahay sa ibang lugar at napakarami nang naitala na pang-aabuso sa kanila,” she added.

(That remark… It’s frightening because it seems to have been said without considering many Filipinos work abroad as domestic helpers and there have been many cases of abuse)

Robredo said many Filipinos have been raped and sexually abused by their employers, and for Duterte to use the narrative as a joke only places them at greater risk.

“Parang ginagawang normal... Parang ginamit mo ito bilang isang biro o pahayag, parang nano-normalize yung isang bagay na napakasama,” Robredo said.

(It’s like it makes it seem normal. Using it as a joke or a statement normalizes a thing that’s evil)

“Sana hindi na ito mangyari muli (I hope this won’t happen again),” she added, while acknowledging that making jokes isn't prohibited.

In June 2017, in response to another controversial remark from the president, the Commisison on Human Rights said that "jokes" about rape and abuse should not be brushed aside as harmless.

"Even in the context of a joke, the statement is a step-back to the advancement of human rights, particularly for women," the CHR said then, adding that the president's remark about rape, normalizes the objectification of women. 

The statement was issued in response to Duterte saying: "What I don't like are kids (being raped.) You can mess with, maybe Miss Universe. Maybe I will even congratulate you for having the balls to rape somebody when you know you are going to die."

The Palace said then that "as far as the public is concerned, and they are the ones who really approve of him, they find the president as somebody who understands them, who has their common interests, their common good, at heart."

Palace: No apologies

The Palace has said Duterte will not apologize for his "confession" of touching a sleeping maid in his youth, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Thursday, adding the story was not obscene anyway.

Late last December, the president shared how he confessed to a priest about trying "to touch what was inside the panty" of their househelp.

The remark drew criticism from women’s group Gabriela who called for his resignation due to these “disturbing” remarks.

Malacañang dismissed the story as a “laughable” and “made-up” anecdote.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte’s remarks were “not obscene “since the audience, which included national and local government officials, was laughing at the event.

READ: Duterte story about touching sleeping househelp not obscene — Palace

Among the officials whose presence Duterte acknowledged in his speech at the December 29  land distribution event in Kidapawan City were Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza.

Panelo said Duterte was only trying to get his message across by exaggerating his story. He said the point of the story was to highlight sexual abuse by priests.

"Haven't you noticed napakagaling ni president maggawa ng kuwento, mga kathang kuwento o kuwento na nangyari pero ine-exaggerate niya para lang ma-tone down 'yung bigat ng mensahe para mas madaling tanggapin rather than 'yung style na mumurahin mo nang husto 'yung dapat mong banatan," Panelo said Thursday.

(The president is really good at making stories, fictional stories or stories that happened already but he exaggerates them to tone down the weight of the message so that it can be easily accepted rather than the style of cursing at those who you want to attack)

The president's supporters say that his controversial remarks make him relatable to the common Filipino who they say talk the same way.